Armenian National Movement in the PACE

The Armenian National Movement has been given the opportunity to personally raise its issues and those concerning the Armenian society in the PACE and the European Parliament. Today the ANM administration told a press conference that the party has been a part of the European Liberal-Democratic-Reformist Party since March 12. The party is highly representative in the PACE, the European Parliament and other European organizations. It has 4 prime ministers, tens of ministers and hundreds of deputies.

The ANM will be represented by president of the ANM Ararat Zurabyan and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Arzumanyan, while delegates of

Readers voted for the most disreputable

Based on a survey by "A1+", 54.3% of people say the judicial branch of government as the most disreputable in Armenia.

20.4% considered the National Assembly to be the most disreputable, while 13.2% said the government is the most disreputable.

12.1% qualified mass media outlets-the fourth power-as the most disreputable. There were a total of 1,384 readers participating in the survey.
This week we suggest answering the following question: Is it possible to see change of power in Armenia this year?

Dear readers, if you would like to make comments in addition to responding to the question, please

“They will leave Armenia with sacks of money”

Last Thursday PACE co-rapporteurs welcomed Armenia's response to their call for a "roadmap" to put into effect the reforms recommended in the aftermath of the March 2008 election violence.

The relatives of the March 1st ten victims consider the co-rapporteurs' step immoral.

"How can they speak of a roadmap if none of the murderers of the ten victims has been disclosed or examined to date? I mean the four policemen using Cheryomukha-7 gas-powered gun during the clashes of March 1, 2008," said Alla Hovhannisyan, the mother of perished Tigran Khachatryan.

The relatives are not encouraged by the authorities

Minister Bartak arrived with delay

Defense Ministers of the Czech Republic and Armenia, Martin Bartak and Seyran Ohanyan, today signed an agreement on military partnership in the RA Ministry of Defense.

"We expect that the agreement will guarantee cooperation on practical and mutually beneficial conditions. Czech is a full-right and active member of European and Euro-Atlantic structures and the cooperation with this country doubles Armenia's chances to boost cooperation in the framework of NATO, OSCE and UN," RA Defense Minister Seryan Ohanyan announced during the briefing following the ceremony of signing.

Only two journalists had a chance to address questions during the briefing as

HAK deems it as a major achievement

PACE Co- rapporteurs on Armenia John Prescott and Georges Colombier yesterday welcomed Armenian authorities' response to their call for a "roadmap" to put into effect the reforms recommended in the aftermath of the March 2008 election violence.

The Armenian National Congress (HAK) urges its proponents not to be displeased with the Co- rapporteurs' approval of the authorities' decision.

"The Co- rapporteurs spoke in a normal diplomatic language. A process has started in the Council of Europe which defines CoE recommendations and demands to RA authorities. The CoE has given RA authorities a definite timeframe to implement reforms and surmount

Armenian figure skater comes 42nd in World Figure Skating Championships

Armenian figure skater Sargis Hayrapetyan came 42nd at the World Figure Skating Championships held in Turin, Italy.

Hayrapetyan was the 42nd among 48 participants with 39,02 points. Tigran Vardanyan of Hungary came 41st with 39,30 points.

Japan's Daisuke Takahashi became the first Japanese man to win gold at the world championships.

 

Source: The Armenian News by A1+

Schiff And Hachikian To Headline Live Anca Tele-Townhall On Armenian Genocide Resolution

Activists Encouraged to Email Questions for Live Interactive Telecast on Sunday, March 28th 8-9pm PST

HOLLYWOOD–Congressional Armenian Genocide Resolution author Adam Schiff (D-CA) will join ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian for a nationally televised Townhall meeting on Sunday March 28th from 8:00 – 9:00 pm PST to discuss ongoing efforts to secure the adoption of this genocide-prevention measure by the full U.S. House of Representatives.

“As a grassroots group devoted to empowering our community, we are truly excited to offer this opportunity for Armenian Americans to take part in this Sunday’s live, televised townhall meeting on the Armenian Genocide Resolution,” said ANC-WR Chairwoman Aida Dimejian. We especially look forward to hearing Congressman Schiff discuss

‘Auschwitz is the Der Zor of the Jews,’ Says Sarkisian

YEREVAN—"Auschwitz is the Der Zor of the Jews," said President Serzh Sarkisian in a speech delivered Wednesday at the historic mass grave-site of Armenian Genocide victims, adding that the details of the atrocities that took place at Der Zor were well known even to those "who publicly deny the veracity of the [Armenian] Genocide."

Sarkisian also made an apparent reference to recent comments by, among others, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that a so-called "historic commission," as cited in the Armenia-Turkey protocols, will be tasked to address the Genocide issue. Sarkisian provided perspective by saying that "It is inappropriate to cite some commission of historians, since the Armenia-Turkey protocols task the creation of a mere governmental sub-commission on historic matters. I assume

Kocharyan’s Karabakh origin disturbed

Former NKR Minister of Foreign Affairs Arman Melikyan is certain that Serzh Sargsyan's call to Azerbaijan to sign an agreement on no application of force will not have any impact on the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

"Azerbaijan has already rejected the proposal and there is no realpolitik there. The Armenian side is already being too friendly by expressing willingness to hand territories and receiving Azeri refugees. In other words, Armenia is in a losing position in foreign politics," Melikyan told "A1+".

He reminded that the idea of signing an agreement on no application of force had been stated several times by former Russian Co-Chair of

Thomas Hammarberg: “More needs to be done”

"Historical controversies should not hold human rights hostage. One-sided interpretations or distortions of historical events have sometimes led to discrimination of minorities, xenophobia and renewal of conflict. It is crucial to establish an honest search for the truth" said Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, in his latest Viewpoint published today.

Gross human rights violations in the past continue to affect relations in today's Europe. In some cases, genuine knowledge of history has facilitated understanding, tolerance and trust between individuals and peoples. However, some serious atrocities are denied or trivialised, which has created new tensions.

"Coming

“The authorities want to destroy everything in Yerevan”

"Demolition of the summer hall of Moscow Cinema and erection of a church on the site is mere barbarism," says architect Eduard Hovhannisyan.

The architect says the authorities want to destroy everything in the capital and advises them to rebuild the rundown churches.

"The cinema has become a universal pride, even foreign architects admire the building's architectural value," observed Mr. Hovhannisyan. "It is unfortunate that we have such a government and clergymen who brutally destroy our city. It really hurts me. Leave this city alone!"

Architect Koryun Hakobyan considers the idea of demolition a bluff. "Under the guise

HHK no longer understands Oskanian

Deputy Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) Razmik Zohrabyan does not share ex Foreign Minister vartan Oskanian's opinion that we witness the repetition of 1998 in the talks over Karabakh and the situation can be recovered only through a power change.

"Mr. Oskanian has always surprised me. If he is not a foreign minister today, it does not mean he can criticize the present authorities. He was in our camp for ten years. Robert Kocharian, Vartan Oskanian and many others were in our ranks. Today we follow their policy though they criticize us as they are no longer

VARDAN OSKANYAN RECALLS 1998 CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT

March 18, the former Armenian foreign minister Vardan Oskanyan gave interviews to A1+ news web portal and Capital paper expressing his opinions about the situation over the Karabakh issue settlement.
 
He said that it is evident that completely other conditions are formed over the NKR issue settlement. Changes are evident on two levels – changes of situation and content. As a result of the Armenian and Turkish process, much is changed, which brought about changes of content. Turkey got involved in this process and this circumstance could not but be reflected in the negotiating document.   
 
In his